Method and apparatus for automatic Bluetooth connection using Bluetooth dual mode

Abstract

A method for automatic Bluetooth connection in a head unit of vehicle includes discovering an advertisement from a mobile device, based on a period of advertisement discovery, when at least one advertisement corresponding to the mobile device is discovered, changing the period of advertisement discovery, discovering the advertisement based on a changed period of advertisement discovery, and arranging a Bluetooth connection between a head unit and a mobile device corresponding to the discovered advertisement.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for automatic Bluetooth connection in a mobile device engaging with a head unit of a vehicle, the method comprising:
 broadcasting an advertisement with a predetermined period of advertisement broadcast when a Bluetooth function is inactivated; 
 receiving vehicle status information from a vehicle gateway engaged via in-vehicle networking and a request signal for activating the Bluetooth function from the head unit of the vehicle; 
 changing the period of advertisement broadcasting based on current status information of the mobile device; and 
 broadcasting the advertisement with the changed period for advertisement broadcast, 
 wherein the current status information includes a battery charging state and a Bluetooth connection state with the head unit of the vehicle, 
 wherein the mobile device includes an application provided by a vehicle manufacturer, 
 wherein the application provides a predetermined menu to determine whether an automatic Bluetooth connection function is activated, 
 wherein, while the automatic Bluetooth connection function is activated, the advertisement is periodically transmitted even if a function for Bluetooth connection is not activated, and 
 wherein the period of advertisement broadcasting is further based on the vehicle status information after a Bluetooth pairing of the head unit is turned on. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 checking whether the automatic Bluetooth connection function is activated. 
 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 activating the Bluetooth function to thereby arrange a Bluetooth connection with the head unit, when the automatic Bluetooth connection function is activated. 
 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 when the automatic Bluetooth connection function is not activated, showing a predetermined screen configured to receive user's confirmation which enables the automatic Bluetooth connection function to work. 
 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the period of advertisement broadcasting is adjusted to increase a search time and the number of periods during a predetermined time unit. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the period of advertisement broadcasting is adjusted to increase a search ratio during a predetermined time unit. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein when at least one advertisement corresponding to the mobile device is not broadcasted after the period of advertisement broadcast is changed, adjusting the period of advertisement broadcast to decrease a search time and the number of periods during a predetermined time unit. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein when the vehicle status information is an “on” status, adjusting the period of advertisement broadcast to maximize at least one of a search time, the number of periods, and a search ratio during a predetermined time unit. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising stopping the advertisement broadcast when the vehicle status information includes a warning of a vehicle battery charging state. 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 obtaining information relating to a current time slot; and 
 changing the period of advertisement broadcast based on the present time slot. 
 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the advertisement is a signal including a periodic pulse. 
     
     
       12. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium containing instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor to cause the processor to perform a method for automatic Bluetooth connection in a mobile device engaging with a head unit of a vehicle, the method comprising:
 broadcasting an advertisement with a predetermined period of advertisement broadcast when a Bluetooth function is inactivated; 
 receiving vehicle status information from a vehicle gateway engaged via in-vehicle networking and a request signal for activating the Bluetooth function from the head unit of the vehicle; 
 changing the period of advertisement broadcasting based on current status information of the mobile device; and 
 broadcasting the advertisement with the changed period for advertisement broadcast, 
 wherein the current status information includes a battery charging state and a Bluetooth connection state with the head unit of the vehicle, 
 wherein the mobile device includes an application provided by a vehicle manufacturer, 
 wherein the application provides a predetermined menu to determine whether an automatic Bluetooth connection function is activated, 
 wherein, while the automatic Bluetooth connection function is activated, the advertisement is periodically transmitted even if a function for Bluetooth connection is not activated, and 
 wherein the period of advertisement broadcasting is further based on the vehicle status information after a Bluetooth pairing of the head unit is turned on.